EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) has been used effectively for the treatment of PTSD ( Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) for the past 25 years Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro, it postulates that the brain has a natural healing process that takes intense emotions that are associated with a traumatic event and finds a way to interpret this information in an adaptive way. Much like it does with REM sleep. However, sometimes when emotions associated with events are too intense, the information is not processed and stored properly. leading to depression, anxiety, nightmares and phobias. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation in the forms of eye movements or rhythmic taping to stimulate the parts of the brain that stores this unprocessed information and then helps the emotions and negative thoughts associated with the event be processed properly, reducing or extinguishing the over whelming emotions. EMDR is done in the office sessions using an 8 part protocol that will will be worked on together by the therapist and the patient. It also can be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment.